Members Receive Conditional Production Financing

NZ shotputter Valerie Adams

Congratulations to our members who have received conditional production financing offers in NZFC’s latest funding round. The NZFC Board approved a record $9.6 million across eight applications, including Stylebender and The Final Throw – The Dame Valerie Adams Story.

Zoe McIntosh is set to direct feature documentary Stylebender, which follows the story of a bullied Nigerian-New Zealander who must battle the world’s greatest UFC fighters, and his own demons, in his quest to become a global superstar.

Briar March is set to direct The Final Throw – The Dame Valerie Adams Story with Leanne Pooley set to produce.

Last updated on 7 April 2021

/by

Frankie Jean Tours Australia

DEGNZ member Hannah Marshall’s Frankie Jean & The Morning Star screened at Flickerfest International Short Film Festival in Sydney, Australia’s largest local and international short film competition. The film is currently screening to regional audiences around Australia as part of the Flickerfest Best of International Shorts National Tour.

Frankie Jean & The Morning Star was written and directed by Hannah Marshall and edited by member Luke Haigh. After the All Blacks lose the Rugby Championship, a devastated, rugby-obsessed 8 year old girl sneaks out to practice and stumbles across a teenager about to end his life.

Last updated on 7 April 2021

/by

Snakeskin Newly Digitised

Member Gillian Ashurst’s Snakeskin, originally released in 2001, opened the Made in Canterbury Festival at Isaac Theatre Royal (March 19-21).

Shot on 35mm and edited by DEGNZ member Cushla Dillon, it was the first public screening of the newly digitised film, funded by the NZFC’s Film Digitisation Programme. Gillian was present to introduce the film.

Filmed against the backdrop of the Canterbury landscape, Alice (Melanie Lynskey) and Johnny (Dean O’ Gorman) are a couple of suburban kids, cruising the highways searching for adventure, old enough to know what they’re doing – young enough to get it wrong. Their paths cross with an American cowboy in snakeskin boots, Seth (Boyd Kestner), looking for a ride. Seth takes the kiwis on the trip of their dreams, but they soon discover this snake can create nightmares, and in the heart of the Southern Alps, these kids are about to pay.

Snakeskin won five awards at the 2001 NZ Film and TV Awards, including best film.

Last updated on 7 April 2021

/by

Jessica Hobbs on Her Directing Career

Jessica Hobbs on Zoom with Rob Sarkies

In a recent interview delivered by Script to Screen, Kiwi director Jessica Hobbs (The Crown, Apple Tree Yard, Broadchurch) spoke to DEGNZ member Rob Sarkies. Hobbs touches on a variety of topics, from early days stepping out into the industry, to her experiences directing the award-winning series, The Crown.

Tune in to hear what it’s like working on a series drama in the UK right now, Jessica’s approach to directing, and her ambitions for the future.

Last updated on 7 April 2021

/by

Members Films In Seattle International Film Festival

Local film This Town will shortly have its US Premiere at Seattle International Film Festival (April 8-18), while short film Daddy’s Girl (Kōtiro) has also been officially selected for SIFF 2021. Congrats to board member Francis Glenday, editor on This Town, and to Daddy’s Girl director Cian Elyse White (DEGNZ) and editor, DEGNZ board member Annie Collins. Daddy’s Girl will screen within SIFF’s short film programme Leveling Up.

Last updated on 7 April 2021

/by